There was an element of surprise when Monster Energy Kawasaki rolled out a largely overhauled KX450SR for Chase Sexton in San Diego, fitted with additional Pro Circuit components after he sampled Levi Kitchen’s KX250 last week. What the former 450SX champion was actually looking for with his decision was answered post-race.

Keen observers at Snapdragon Stadium immediately recognized the Pro Circuit triple clamps combined with PC’s 250-specification A-Kit Showa forks, and a Pro Circuit linkage on the factory Kawasaki – complete with a unique retro livery for the weekend to celebrate 25 years since Ricky Carmichael won the 2001 premier class crown.

Pro Circuit and Kawasaki’s relationship runs deep, with the former fielding Team Green’s official 250SX class program for over two decades, while also partnering with the factory team. Still, it was a sudden turnaround after Sexton had qualified quickest on debut at A1, but could only manage eighth in the main event.

Image: Octopi Media.

“I just wanted to get the bike more comfortable for me,” Sexton admitted. “I think in the off-season, I went the wrong way, which was on me. We made a lot of progress on the chassis, but suspension-wise, it was really soft last weekend, and the bike wasn’t going to be good for 20 minutes because of the direction I pushed it.

“This week, the whole team – even Pro Circuit – helped a lot. We came together as a family and that’s pretty cool. I’m really having fun being a part of Kawasaki and I think we’re going to see some good things coming here very soon.

“You hear that they [Kawasaki] are really rigid and strict, but they’ve been nothing but open arms to me. I rode Levi’s bike this week, and I haven’t ridden a 250 in a long time, and he rode my bike, but it was cool to learn some stuff as they [Pro Circuit] do a lot of R&D themselves.”

Image: Octopi Media.

The partnership yielded a more rideable setting for Sexton to line up with in San Diego, taking a convincing victory in his heat race, before climbing to a hard-fought P4 result after starting last as a result of hitting the gate. Speed was on his side, although it was that lapse in concentration before the gates even dropped that ultimately affected the end result.

“My bike was a lot better today,” he added. “We still have some work to do, but we’re pretty close to being in a good spot to click off some wins. Tonight, I had the bike to do it, but I just made a dumb mistake on my part, so we’ll clean that up.

“When you’re starting last, with how the class is, it’s pretty hard to get back to the top-five. Once I got there, I was pushing hard and I felt like I was catching them, but it was just a little too far for me to close that gap.”

Image: Octopi Media.

Sexton has started his 2026 Monster Energy Supercross campaign with 8-4 results and consequently sits 18 points behind new Red Bull KTM Factory Racing recruit Eli Tomac, who has earned double victories. Of course, it was Tomac who was the rider who replaced Sexton in orange.

“Overall, that was a good race for me – I think I had really good speed for the first 15 minutes of it, and the last to fourth was a big effort,” commented Sexton. “I’m frustrated that I put myself in that hole off the rip, because that was pretty dumb, but we did save a lot of points.

“I know that I am in a bit of a hole at this point, but it feels like I haven’t raced in a long time. Last week I didn’t get to be up front, and then today, I still started at the back, so the goal is to make it easier on myself for next weekend, and we should be right in this thing.”

It is only time that will prove whether or not these rapid Pro Circuit additions to Sexton’s KX will be the answer that he is searching for just two rounds in, but if San Diego is anything to go by, his performance – save the critical starting error – is on the incline. Will it be enough to find the top step of the podium this weekend at Anaheim 2? Only few would be shocked.